By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, JAN 28, 2025: UNDER the leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, Prayagraj Airport has transformed into a modern gateway to the city of devotion, culture and the grand Maha Kumbh Mahotsav. Major expansion efforts were undertaken to accommodate the influx of devotees from January 13 to February 26, 2025.

The efficient operations at Prayagraj Airport result from meticulous planning and coordination. On December 8, 2024, Ram Mohan Naidu reviewed terminal expansion, construction progress and traveler amenities, and issuing time-bound directives. Regular inspections and review meetings with state authorities, DGCA, BCAS, and AAI ensured timely completion of projects. On January 9, 2025, Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol reviewed the work progress at Prayagraj airport.

To facilitate the sacred journey , 81 additional new flights were introduced into schedule in January 2025. Currently, there are 132 flights operating with approximately 80000 monthly seats to Prayagraj from across India. Presently, Prayagraj is connected directly with 17 cities across India as against 08 cities in December 2024. With direct and connecting flights reaching to 26 cities, including Srinagar and Visakhapatnam; Prayagraj is now a well- connected hub for devotees.

As per directions of Union Minister of Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu to ensure that airfares remain in check as the festival's peak days approach, especially during the forthcoming Shahi Sanan on January 29th, February 3rd, and other important Sanan on February 4th, February 12th, and February 26th, 2025; DGCA has advised airlines to ensure sufficient capacity to accommodate passengers. Accordingly:

1. Akasa Air will begin operating flights on January 28th and 29th, connecting Ahmedabad and in February plans to operate 09 flight from Ahmedabad and 12 flight from Bangalore to Prayagraj adding approximately 4000 seats.

2. SpiceJet is set to launch flight services between Delhi, Chennai, Guwahati, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Jaipur and Hyderabad to Prayagraj, adding approximately 43000 seats in February 2025.

These new flights are part of the ongoing efforts to ensure regional connectivity and accommodate the influx of travelers to Prayagraj during the Maha Kumbh period. The addition of these flights is expected to ease the pressure on airfares and improve overall accessibility for devotees and tourists.

During Maha Kumbh, the airport witnessed 30,172 passengers and operated 226 flights in just one week, surpassing 5,000 passengers in a single day for the first time. Night flights were also introduced, enabling 24/7 connectivity for the first time in 106 years.

The airport's modernization included expanding the terminal area from 6,700 sq. m. to 25,500 sq. m., reconfiguring the old terminal to handle 1,080 peak-hour passengers (up from 540) and operationalizing a new terminal for 1,620 passengers. Parking capacity increased from 200 to 600 vehicles, while check-in counters rose from 8 to 42, and XBIS- HB machines increased to 10 from 4. Aircraft movement efficiency was enhanced with an additional taxi track, parking bays increased from 4 to 15, conveyor belts from 2 to 5 and airport gates from 4 to 11. Additional aerobridge and more security infrastructure, including door-framed metal detectors were added.

Passenger comfort saw notable improvements with the addition of lounges, a child care room, and boarding bridges (increased from 2 to 6). F&B counters were increased, complemented by the UDAN Yatri Cafe for affordable food. New services include meet-and-greet assistance for differently-abled individuals, prepaid taxi counters, and a city bus service in collaboration with the UP Government. Medical facilities were bolstered with ambulance deployment and air ambulance services; while arriving pilgrims receive floral welcomes for a warm start to their journey.

This transformation underscores the government's commitment to delivering world-class infrastructure, ensuring seamless connectivity and unmatched travel experiences for all devotees visiting Maha Kumbh 2025.